Hand plane identification

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After talking with JWatson in chat I went back to previously unused planes I inherited from my grandfather to identify what I have. I'm posting pics per JW's request. The first 3 planes are easy to identify. The larger 2 still sort of elude me and I'm looking forward to help.

The smallest is a Stanley #9 1/2.

The second smallest is a Miller Falls #75.

The third is a Bailey #3. It has the dates of Mar20-02, Aug19-02 and Apr19-10 behind the frog. What do those mean? It is also the only one with a corrugated bottom. Is that good or bad?

The 4th and 5th have Defiance on them either on the handle or blade, but the 5th has the number three stamped on the heel and nothing else.

I am also trying to figure out if I should sell the 4th one as it seems like a junker to me. It does not have all the features of the 5th one. Also...I need to tune and clean these up. I'm trying to figure out how much labor/love/rust removal to do. For some reason they all have paint spatter on them. Is it worth scrubbing them down to bare metal and repainting the bodies? What about refinishing the handles?

Lastly, with these planes is the set fairly complete? Is there too much duplication? Please post your thoughts on all my questions. Thanks!

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After talking with JWatson in chat I went back to previously unused planes I inherited from my grandfather to identify what I have. I'm posting pics per JW's request. The first 3 planes are easy to identify. The larger 2 still sort of elude me and I'm looking forward to help.

The smallest is a Stanley #9 1/2.

The second smallest is a Miller Falls #75.

The third is a Bailey #3. It has the dates of Mar20-02, Aug19-02 and Apr19-10 behind the frog. What do those mean? It is also the only one with a corrugated bottom. Is that good or bad?

The 4th and 5th have Defiance on them either on the handle or blade, but the 5th has the number three stamped on the heel and nothing else.

I am also trying to figure out if I should sell the 4th one as it seems like a junker to me. It does not have all the features of the 5th one. Also...I need to tune and clean these up. I'm trying to figure out how much labor/love/rust removal to do. For some reason they all have paint spatter on them. Is it worth scrubbing them down to bare metal and repainting the bodies? What about refinishing the handles? Please post your thoughts.

the 9 1/2 is the standard block with adjustable mouth. its a common plane that i believe everyone needs. the millers falls 75 is a block but without the mouth adjustment, but is still usable.

after looking at the pictures i think the #3 is a type 11 based on the depth knob and 3 patent dates. they were made from 1910 through 1918. clean it and use it.

on the two jack planes the usability depends on the frog. if the frog is a decent frog then refurbish it for use otherwise you can do what you need to with it.

on all of them as long as the knobs and totes(handles) are in tact there is no reason to mess with them. if they are cracked you can repair them for use again. clean the bodies well and if they have pitting you need to deal with the rust by removal with evaporust or some other method of rust removal. you can polish the brass parts with brasso. make sure to get the gunk out from under the frogs etc. then you just have to sharpen and hone the irons and you will be back in business.

I wouldn't know, but the #9 1/2 is better because of the adjustable mouth. Bit of of a duplicate.

#3: The third is a Bailey #3. It has the dates of Mar20-02, Aug19-02 and Apr19-10 behind the frog. What do those mean? It is also the only one with a corrugated bottom. Is that good or bad?

Agreed. The dates refer to patents, so your plane is younger than 1910, but possibly not much younger. Corrugated bottoms were a design feature to reduce resistance. Can't stand them myself, but they make no difference in use.

The 4th and 5th have Defiance on them either on the handle or blade, but the 5th has the number three stamped on the heel and nothing else.

They're both #5's. The first (photo set #4) is a very early model (perhaps pre-1900's) because there is no lateral adjuster. The second is a Bailey #5, after Bailey fell out with Stanley he started up Defiance. Agan, what is the condition of the sole, and around the mouth?

You're a lucky man.

I am also trying to figure out if I should sell the 4th one as it seems like a junker to me. It does not have all the features of the 5th one. Also...I need to tune and clean these up. I'm trying to figure out how much labor/love/rust removal to do. For some reason they all have paint spatter on them. Is it worth scrubbing them down to bare metal and repainting the bodies? What about refinishing the handles?

No, you can use #4 for rougher work like flattening the board, and #5 as a jointer/smoother.

If there are no cracks or chips around the mouth, then flatten the sole, frog surfaces, and sharpen the blade and chipbreaker. Then have at it for a while. If all goes well, you can decide if you want to do any further restoration, or get a better (Hock) blade, and so on. The damage to the tote on #5 doesn't matter too much.

Lastly, with these planes is the set fairly complete? Is there too much duplication? Please post your thoughts on all my questions. Thanks!

I'd be very happy with that set.

John

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I cleaned up the #3 yesterday. It's not a restoration, but it's cleaned up enough to work again. I had a machinist near me flatten the sole. I also purchased a Hock blade and chip breaker. I sharpened it to 8k on my glass Shapton stones with my Veritas Mk II honing jig. My point to list this stuff is to recommend all of them. I followed the recommendation to round the corners too.

My #3 is now a fine performer. I'm still looking at the LN 4.5, but this little #3 functions nicely now too! I have a Hock blade and chipbreaker for the gray #5 but have to practice sharpening a camber into the blade before installation.

Again, thanks to all in the forum and chat for your help making my shop a hybrid shop!!!!

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I tested the 10 and 20 on scrap. I need to go double check but I think the 20 is more than 1/8" from the outside face. I thought about the liner but do do not think it is needed. The tortoise environment is pretty dry outside of some daily misting and that gets more on the walls that the bottom. The bottom will have 6" of a dry cypress mulch (I think it is cypress). I think I will seal it with waterlox. I like the idea of the dry biscuit. What size screws should I go with? Also, on the sides, what spacing should I go with if I do 20s? thanks again. Mike

I just follow the directions on the can. Make test panels from stage scraps. Sand and prep them same as the project. Take careful notes on the back. Most stains are supposed to be wiped back, not left on overnight to dry. Read the directions. Over sanding to too high of a grit will result in lighter stain absorption . Careful sanding to maybe 120 or 150 may give darker results.

Not having much luck with pics but I have my busness on facebook because its free but Im not shore if its ok to post that so i will tell you that my name is Mark Mathews from Readfield Maine ..I just build cabinets and dont have the talent as alot of you...I build simple cabinets with ply boxes with dados and rabbits frunt and back to except back and face frame..Rased and flat pannel doors and dove tale joints....I do nice work but have no Idea how to do alot of things that you guys can and I wish sometimes I did not this for a living because it would be a lot of fun to take your time doing anything you want and not worry about money.Thanks Mark

#20 should work. Cut a slot in a scrap the cut the slot in half. If the thinnest point is about an 1/8 you are fine. There is a depth adjustment and most machines actually cut a bit too deep. When there is only a tiny extra space the biscut needs to be centered carefully . # 10 should be strong enough if the #20 is too close. i would glue the joints in the sides and dry biscuit the bottom for alignment. Then put screws between the biscuits to attach it. are you still planning on a plastic liner of some sort ?

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